One issue that is extremely important to me is rape because I have heard so much about it. Over the years, I have read so many awful rape stories that have truly made me aware of what goes on in our world. I feel very passionate about this issue because being raped is one of the worst things that can happen to anybody...either a boy or a girl. As a result, I found an organization called AWARE, which stands for Arming Women Against Rape and Endagerment. This is an organization that promotes "effective self-protection for intelligent young women". Their mission is to educate the public, organizations, and individuals about issues related to personal safety. It is a source of training, information, and support for people, primarily women, learning how to cope with violence. AWARE training is focused on self-protection and self-defense skills that can enable women to avoid, resist, and survive situations ranging from low levels of aggression to extremely violent assault. It also is a valuable resource for self-defense instructors, law enforcement professionals, social workers, rape crisis counselors, human resource employees, and victim service providers.
I really like this organization because it teaches women how to pretect themselves and this is crucial in avoiding rape. Being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to protect yourself is crucial in potential rape situations. I definitely support this organization and would really like to donate money to it. In the future, I would love to be able to work for an organization like this.
Readings:
In the F-word, the author discusses the difference between the second wave feminists and the third wave feminists. Reuss claims that the second wavers are more concerned with electoral change while the third wavers are more concerned with social change. I think that this is very interesting. He then goes on to argue that the third wavers are making many mistakes and that everything is their fault. I don't completely agree with this because I think that times are very different and we cannot judge the second wavers or third wavers.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Reading Gender: The Eternal Feminine
While reading The Eternal Feminine, by Castellanos, I found that many scenes were very significant in portraying gender. However, I thought that the Honeymoom scene clearly demonstrated the best portrayal of how unkindly men treated women. This act showed in a very comical way how women are seen as nothing more than sex objects who gave their bodies over to their husbands. They were not suppossed to enjoy sex in the least bit and were also not allowed to have slept with any other man before they got married. The man was also allowed to question his wife as much as he wanted. For example, Juan asked Lupita question such as, "Have you ever been married before?" or "Is this your first time?" However, the woman wouldn't dare ask her husband these questions because that would be seen as disrespectful. It is only acceptable for a man to ask a woman these questions, which personally I think is ridiculous. It made me upset that men could treat women so badly and that women could not stand up for themselves.
I think the main point Castellanos is trying to make is that women really are treated this way and that men think they have a right to their wife's or girlfriend's body. A lot of men think that they own their girlfriend/wife and can take control of them whenever they want. However, they do not want their woman's body when it has been taken by another man in the past. This bothers them so much that they will take drastic measures to makes sure that she has not been with another man before. I was shocked when I read about the bloody sheet and thought that it was awful for a man to check and see if his new wife was a virgin. Consequently, I also think that Castellanos wants us to believe that a woman must always give the right answer when asked a question. For example, Juan became extremely defensive when Lupita told him that she didn't enjoy having sex with him. Juan told her that "she vowed to obey him" and that she was breaking her promise when she did not enjoy sex. Castellanos was also showing that women are not supposed to like sex...it is just something that they are supposed to tolerate in the marriage. This is why Lupita told Juan that he would have to force her to have sex with him.
From the in class discussions, we talked about the traditional gender roles that men and women are supposed to play. Women are typically the "faithful lovers" who do all the housework while the men make all the money and can do what they please. In the article, He's a Stud, She's a Slut, Valentini discusses how if women go out and sleep around they are considered a "slut", but if a man sleeps around he is seen as a "stud" These gender roles and stereotypes are seen in the play as well because it is a huge deal if a husband finds out that his wife has slept around. It didn't matter if Juan had slept around, but it was a big deal if Lupita had. Personally, I think that our society still uses this kind of logic today because men still think it is "slutty" if a girl sleeps around. Most men will not even date a girl if they know that she has slept with a lot of guys. I also feel that women are still seen as objects and are told to behave in a certain way.
I think the main point Castellanos is trying to make is that women really are treated this way and that men think they have a right to their wife's or girlfriend's body. A lot of men think that they own their girlfriend/wife and can take control of them whenever they want. However, they do not want their woman's body when it has been taken by another man in the past. This bothers them so much that they will take drastic measures to makes sure that she has not been with another man before. I was shocked when I read about the bloody sheet and thought that it was awful for a man to check and see if his new wife was a virgin. Consequently, I also think that Castellanos wants us to believe that a woman must always give the right answer when asked a question. For example, Juan became extremely defensive when Lupita told him that she didn't enjoy having sex with him. Juan told her that "she vowed to obey him" and that she was breaking her promise when she did not enjoy sex. Castellanos was also showing that women are not supposed to like sex...it is just something that they are supposed to tolerate in the marriage. This is why Lupita told Juan that he would have to force her to have sex with him.
From the in class discussions, we talked about the traditional gender roles that men and women are supposed to play. Women are typically the "faithful lovers" who do all the housework while the men make all the money and can do what they please. In the article, He's a Stud, She's a Slut, Valentini discusses how if women go out and sleep around they are considered a "slut", but if a man sleeps around he is seen as a "stud" These gender roles and stereotypes are seen in the play as well because it is a huge deal if a husband finds out that his wife has slept around. It didn't matter if Juan had slept around, but it was a big deal if Lupita had. Personally, I think that our society still uses this kind of logic today because men still think it is "slutty" if a girl sleeps around. Most men will not even date a girl if they know that she has slept with a lot of guys. I also feel that women are still seen as objects and are told to behave in a certain way.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Blog 9
I found a non-governmental organization called Global Fund for Women, which is a nonprofit grantmaking foundation that advances women's rights worldwide. It is a network of men and women who believe that "ensuring women's full equality and participation in society is one of the most effective ways to build a just, peaceful, and sustainable world." They do this by raising funds from a variety of sources and and making grants to women-led organizations.
These are some of the reviews and success stories that I found:
"We want to raise the status of rural women, prepare them for the market economy and create conditions in which women are able to make a living wage.” — Bubuzura Azhumudinova, founder of Eldik Uzda
“What we really want is to change violent attitudes and behaviors. We are trying to find the best way to introduce elements for prevention and protection against family violence.” — Fátima Millón, former director, Red de Mujeres Contra la Violencia
“Women for Women’s Human Rights has [made a] great contribution to the women’s movement in Turkey. Three years ago, they organized women’s groups to change the Turkish Civil and Family Code, and they got the government to change the laws.” — Nurcan Baysal, GFW Advisor
I truly think that this organization is worth giving money to because they are trying to help women all over the world. Their main purpose is to advocate and defend women's human rights and they truly use every penny that is donated towards issues concerning women. The money is distributed to issues such as: expanding civic and political participation, advancing health and sexual/reproductive rights, increasing access to education, fostering social change philanthropy, and ensuring gender-based violence. This organization aims at fixing the inequality problems women face everyday and also in promoting justice for every woman in the world. I want to donate to this organization!
Reading:
In chapter 8 of FIFE, hooks discusses global feminism and how it needs to be achieved in other countries as well as the United States. It begins by discussing white upper class women and how they dominate the movement and often leave out other races and poor women. It then discusses neocolonial paternalism, which was enacted to keep people of color out of the picture so that the upper class white women would represent feminism. I think that this is wrong and every women, incuding women of color, should have a say in feminism and should be allowed to voice their opinions freely. I feel that this is necessary for the feminism movement to work. If the white women are the only ones making the decisions, only the things in their interest will be achieved. I feel that all women should work together so that the feminism movement can prosper. The reading was very interesting and I enjoyed it because I really made me think a lot about this issue.
These are some of the reviews and success stories that I found:
"We want to raise the status of rural women, prepare them for the market economy and create conditions in which women are able to make a living wage.” — Bubuzura Azhumudinova, founder of Eldik Uzda
“What we really want is to change violent attitudes and behaviors. We are trying to find the best way to introduce elements for prevention and protection against family violence.” — Fátima Millón, former director, Red de Mujeres Contra la Violencia
“Women for Women’s Human Rights has [made a] great contribution to the women’s movement in Turkey. Three years ago, they organized women’s groups to change the Turkish Civil and Family Code, and they got the government to change the laws.” — Nurcan Baysal, GFW Advisor
I truly think that this organization is worth giving money to because they are trying to help women all over the world. Their main purpose is to advocate and defend women's human rights and they truly use every penny that is donated towards issues concerning women. The money is distributed to issues such as: expanding civic and political participation, advancing health and sexual/reproductive rights, increasing access to education, fostering social change philanthropy, and ensuring gender-based violence. This organization aims at fixing the inequality problems women face everyday and also in promoting justice for every woman in the world. I want to donate to this organization!
Reading:
In chapter 8 of FIFE, hooks discusses global feminism and how it needs to be achieved in other countries as well as the United States. It begins by discussing white upper class women and how they dominate the movement and often leave out other races and poor women. It then discusses neocolonial paternalism, which was enacted to keep people of color out of the picture so that the upper class white women would represent feminism. I think that this is wrong and every women, incuding women of color, should have a say in feminism and should be allowed to voice their opinions freely. I feel that this is necessary for the feminism movement to work. If the white women are the only ones making the decisions, only the things in their interest will be achieved. I feel that all women should work together so that the feminism movement can prosper. The reading was very interesting and I enjoyed it because I really made me think a lot about this issue.
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